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News from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economics Research Service: The cost of bleached white flour skyrocketed to $19.52 per 100 pounds in January, from $14.13 in May 2010. That's a 38% jump! And while the price hike is hitting commercial bakers much harder than it's affecting your Aunt Edna, no one wants to drop a bundle when making a simple batch of cookies. As it turns out, Crain's reports, flour isn't the only baking ingredient that's gone up in price lately. Sugar and nuts have also gotten more expensive (a 50-pound bag of sugar that cost $29.50 two years ago now goes for $37.50; a pound of pecans was $5 or $6 last year but is now more than $8).

But there's good news: The price of butter and eggs has actually gone down recently. Which means if you're trying to save money but still want to enjoy home-baked goodies, shortbread is a godsend. Like most recipes, Jamie Oliver's relies heavily on butter and has just 3 other ingredients, and produces crumbly cookies perfect for dunking in tea. These butter cookies also fit the bill; decorate them with pastel sprinkles and think spring. And Pick-Me-Up Muffins are another cheap treat; you probably have all the (budget-friendly) ingredients in your kitchen already.

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